The Gift
by Li-Young Lee
To pull the metal splinter from my palm
my father recited a story in a low voice.
I watched his lovely face and not the blade.
Before the story ended, he’d removed
the iron sliver I thought I’d die from.I can’t remember the tale,
but hear his voice still, a well
of dark water, a prayer.
And I recall his hands,
two measures of tenderness
he laid against my face,
the flames of discipline
he raised above my head.Had you entered that afternoon
you would have thought you saw a man
planting something in a boy’s palm,
a silver tear, a tiny flame.
Had you followed that boy
you would have arrived here,
where I bend over my wife’s right hand.Look how I shave her thumbnail down
so carefully she feels no pain.
Watch as I lift the splinter out.
I was seven when my father
took my hand like this,
and I did not hold that shard
between my fingers and think,
Metal that will bury me, christen it Little Assassin, Ore Going Deep for My Heart.
And I did not lift up my wound and cry,
I did what a child does
when he’s given something to keep.
I kissed my father.
Summary of The Gift
“The Gift” by Li-Young Lee is a poignant narrative poem exploring the enduring power of a father’s love and the transmission of tenderness across generations. The poem centers on a childhood memory of a father removing a painful splinter from his son’s hand, not through force, but through storytelling and gentle care. This seemingly simple act resonates throughout the speaker’s life, manifesting years later as he carefully tends to his wife’s hand, removing a splinter with the same deliberate gentleness. The poem isn’t simply about removing a splinter; it is about the gift of compassion, the lessons learned through quiet gestures, and the lasting impact of a parent’s nurturing presence.
At its heart, “The Gift” celebrates the idea that true discipline is not about punishment, but about imbuing a child with the capacity for empathy and care. The speaker doesn’t dwell on the pain of the splinter, but rather on the loving details of his father’s actions and the comfort he found in his presence. This memory becomes a model for how he approaches caregiving himself, demonstrating the cyclical nature of love and the profound legacy of a father’s example.
Analysis of Literary Devices Used in The Gift
Li-Young Lee masterfully employs a variety of literary devices to elevate “The Gift” beyond a simple recounting of a childhood memory. These techniques work together to create a rich, emotionally resonant experience for the reader.
Assonance and Consonance
Lee subtly uses sound devices to create a musicality and reinforce the poem’s themes. Notice the repetition of vowel sounds (assonance) and consonant sounds (consonance) throughout. For example, the repetition of the “l” sound in “lovely face” and “laid against” creates a sense of softness and gentleness, mirroring the tenderness described in the poem. Similarly, the repeated “t” sounds in “to pull… the splinter” subtly emphasize the physical sensation and the act of removal. These are not jarring repetitions, but rather subtle sonic echoes that enhance the overall mood.
Enjambment
Enjambment, the continuation of a sentence or phrase from one line to the next without a pause, is prevalent in the poem. Consider these lines:
Had you followed that boy
you would have arrived here,
where I bend over my wife’s right hand.
The enjambment here creates a sense of flow and connection, mirroring the continuity of love and memory across time. It also draws the reader forward, urging them to continue reading and uncover the connection between the childhood memory and the present moment. The lack of punctuation at the line breaks encourages a natural, conversational rhythm.
Imagery
Lee’s poem is saturated with vivid imagery that appeals to multiple senses. The opening lines immediately establish a visual image: “To pull the metal splinter from my palm.” We can almost feel the sharp pain and see the small, metallic object. But the imagery extends beyond the visual. The description of the father’s voice as “a well of dark water, a prayer” evokes not only sound but also a sense of depth, mystery, and reverence. These sensory details ground the poem in a tangible reality, making the emotional impact all the more powerful.
Metaphor
Metaphor plays a crucial role in conveying the poem’s deeper meanings. The act of removing the splinter isn’t simply a physical act; it’s a metaphor for nurturing, healing, and the transmission of love. The father’s hands are described as “two measures of tenderness,” equating his touch with a deliberate and comforting act. This comparison elevates the physical gesture to a symbol of unconditional love and care. The splinter itself can be seen as a metaphor for the pains and challenges of life, and the father’s care as a means of alleviating suffering.
Symbolism
The poem is rich with symbolic meaning. The “kiss” at the end is not just an expression of affection; it symbolizes the speaker’s complete trust and gratitude toward his father. The splinter, as mentioned before, symbolizes pain and hardship, but also the opportunity for healing and growth. The act of planting something in a boy’s palm—as the poem suggests an observer might see—symbolizes the father’s nurturing and the seeding of positive qualities in his son.
Analysis of Poetic Devices Used in The Gift
Beyond the literary devices discussed above, “The Gift” showcases several distinct poetic techniques that contribute to its overall effect.
Free Verse
“The Gift” is written in free verse, meaning it does not adhere to a strict rhyme scheme or metrical pattern. This allows Lee to create a natural, conversational rhythm that mimics the flow of memory and thought. The lack of formal constraints allows the poem’s emotional impact to take center stage, unburdened by the demands of structure. The poem’s shape feels organic and unforced, mirroring the naturalness of the emotions it explores.
Stanza Structure
The poem is not divided into traditional stanzas; it flows as one continuous free‑verse passage. The varying line lengths create a natural rhythm and allow the narrator’s memories to unfold without a fixed pattern. The final section, though varying in line count, feels like an rondeau, a French poetic form, without adhering to its formal rhyme scheme. This subtle echo of poetic form suggests the cyclical nature of memory and the lasting influence of the past.
Quotes to be Used
The following lines encapsulate the poem’s central themes and are particularly useful when discussing the unconditional love of parents and the enduring power of memory.
“To pull the metal splinter from my palm
my father recited a story in a low voice.
I watched his lovely face and not the blade.
Before the story ended, he’d removed
the iron sliver I thought I’d die from.”
These lines perfectly illustrate the poem’s central idea: the power of love and distraction to alleviate pain and the comforting presence of a parent during times of vulnerability. They also highlight the speaker’s ability to focus on the positive, his father’s face, rather than the source of discomfort.